The front door of your home is more than simply a division between private and public space. The front door is not only a personal greeting that you make to the world but is often the most important exterior feature, making or breaking the architectural appeal of a home.

 

If you are building a new home or renovating, begin by checking with your builder/contractor on the dollar allotment for doors and windows. These funds are often lumped together and you will need to do your own breakdown of the budget. If you are happy with the builder’s selection of the front door, then no need to worry about upgrades; you will simply need to select a paint or stain colour. While all exterior doors are important, especially for security reasons, the aesthetics of the front door are key, so you may wish to direct upgrades towards this door, while leaving all other exterior doors as a part of the standard builder’s package.

 

There are many different types of materials used for exterior door construction: metal, fiberglass, fiberglass composite or wood veneer and solid hardwood. The majority of builders will specify a metal door. Dimensionally stable, the steel door is the most common and least expensive type of exterior door. These doors are not solid steel; they actually have a foam core to increase the R-value. Another plus, humidity will not cause this type of door to swell or shrink, although these doors do dent easily. You can purchase steel doors that have synthetic wood-grained embossed finishes that accept stains. Extreme temperatures can cause thermal bowing in a door which occurs when one surface of the door is very cold (the outside) at the same time the other side (inside) is very warm. When the cold side of the door contracts and the warm side expands, the uneven pressure that results may cause the door to bow. Check with the manufacturer to ensure that their warranty covers against thermal bowing. Steel doors generally come primed in a white colour and ready to be paint from the factory. Your painter will then apply the finish coat in your specified colour. Yes, I said colour. Seldom do I leave a metal or fiberglass door of a new home white. I prefer to make a statement with colour and texture.

 

The next step up in exterior doors is fiberglass. The highest quality fiberglass doors successfully imitate real wood. Fiberglass doors, similar to steel doors come with a wood grain look and are strong, energy efficient and much more resilient than steel as they will not dent. As with metal doors, these doors come ready to paint and some doors are stainable. When finished properly, it is almost impossible to distinguish that the door is not truly a wood door. Fiberglass doors, insulated with foam, have high R-values similar to steel doors.

 

Gaining popularity in the new home market are the composite doors. A composite door takes two different materials and blends them together. For example, the manufacturer may use a composite fiber-reinforced core that is structurally stronger than wood. Even in high levels of humidity the core will not rot, warp, or twist. The core is then completely covered in a real wood veneer of just about any species. The veneer should be at least 1/16 inch thick and be sure to read the spec sheet or ask the manufacturer as anything less will damage easily. The finished door has the look and feel of actual wood. Bonus - you get the beauty of wood, but not the problems.

 

If it fits into your building budget (and even if it doesn’t this could be a good ‘splurge’), there is no more prestigious or alluring door than a solid wood door. A solid hardwood door sets the benchmark for all other doors types to follow. The inherent nature of wood makes it adaptable to many different designs and housing styles. Wood doors are indeed pricey, but they are heavy, very secure and portray a perceived sense of value. Caution - the wood doors will shrink and swell with weather, therefore there will be some regular maintenance required. Over time the sun, especially on a south facing door, will fade the stain or paint, which will require a light sanding and re-staining. In my opinion, there is nothing more beautiful, but they will require the most maintenance. Ensure that your painter applies the polyurethane finish to the top and bottom edges of the door as well as the front and back as this will help to prevent a wood door from absorbing moisture and swelling. The door’s face material, be it wood, fiberglass or steel, has the greatest impact on a door's appearance, cost, durability and security. A solid hardwood door can run upwards of $3000 - 4000 and even higher compared to a few hundred dollars for a metal door.

 

Enjoy the journey into your home with a front door that makes a personal statement, and to all who dwell inside - open the door to the possibilities.

 

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